WOOOO

Hello Family and friends! 

This letter is going to be pretty pathetic... We had a really good week but I am trying to think about what I did and literally nothing comes to my head. But, I will think of things! 

Okay... I noticed some really weird things about France today:

*Whenever you drive into a car wash, you get out of your car and watch your car get      washed by the machine! It is so lame... they miss the best part of getting your car            washed. 

*The man on the crosswalk light here is green... not white like in the US of A. 

*Hedgehogs roam the hills and mountains freely. They are considered wild animals here. 

*Hugging people is a more intimate greeting than giving each other kisses on the cheeks. 

Yeah... that is pretty much all for weird things I thought of at the moment. 

As for the work this week, it was really good. We were able to teach most of our amis and they are all doing really well. Mithel, our Chinese amie, prayed for the first time and it was super sweet. At first she was a little hesitant but then she was like okay, I'll do it. 

She starts praying and she is just super genuine. She said in her prayer "... I have doubts but please help me build my faith." I thought that was one of the highlights of the week. 

Something else really good! Actually, this was a huge miracle. We have about three hours until it was time to go back inside and we don't have anything planned besides finding. Which isn't the most fun, but it is good work. Elder Ottesen is says, “We should drive out to an outer ville.” We start driving out of Albi and JUST before we take the last round point, we see Axel walking on the side of the road and I'm like, “WE HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TALK TO HIM!” And we pull over, say a prayer and jump out of the car and go over and talk to him. 

Basically he told us that he had a super hard week because he went to his family's house and they just really bashed the church and all of its teachings and principles. He kind of freaked out and told his family that he wouldn’t meet with us anymore. He told us as soon as he sent the text message he knew that it wasn't the right thing to do. He was very sorry and then we had a lesson with him and set up another one! It was a huge miracle. I'm glad that we listened to the spirit and gave him some space until an opportunity naturally presented itself. 

Also for our amis, The Famille Leroy had their baby! The birth went well and we sent them a text telling them how happy we were for them. We didn't even ask to come over just because she just had her baby but she said, “We will invite you over this next week!” I thought it was funny just because they felt bad they couldn't invite us over this week. HA. We understand you just had a baby! 

Anyway! This was a good week! Thanks for all of your love! 

Avec amour,

Elder Johnson

PS.

We found a wild hedgehog this week. I tried to pick it up but it didn't let me... D:

PPS. 

This last Sunday officially marked six months until Columbus day and my flight home! Pretty stinking weird. 

Christmas is the Best, Illness is NOT!

NOEL

Christmas is so awesome! I love it. The members of Perigueux spoiled us. So, Christmas Eve, we went to the famille Donadier's house, which so so much fun. They have a son on a mission right now and two others that are home who are really cool. We got to their house at around six and then Frere Donadier was like "So, do you want to watch a Disney movie?" So, we sit down and he puts in "Frozen" which is probably the best movie of all time. I loved it so much. When we first sat down to watch the movie, I couldn't really get comfortable. It was just weird being in front of a television but as the movie starting going I got more comfortable and really enjoyed it. 

Once the movie was over, Maggie and Mario (other members who were invited) arrive and that is when we sat down at the table and gorged ourselves. So many courses. It was great. We started out with smoked salmon, caviar, and calamari. Then moved on to some hot appetizers like this scallop gratin thing, which I could have eaten gallons of. 

Once we got through all of the little courses we got to the main course, it was turkey with hazelnuts, green beans, and sweet potato’s, which were all really well done. Soeur Donadier was like... "I'm sorry you have to come to my house to eat for Christmas. That is lame. I'm not that good of a cook." She is a liar. lol. Before we came over though, she asked if there was anything that we traditionally eat for Christmas dinner so that she could maybe make some or something. I told her that we eat squirrels in Arkansas, which absolutely horrified her. LOL. She thought it was so funny though. Now she calls me the "Mangeur des écureuils" which literally means "Eat of squirrels" lol. 

We were able to stay out until 11 PM on Christmas Eve so we had a ton of fun with them. They are a super cool family. They really made Christmas awesome for us. 

Christmas breakfast - Bacon and Pancakes

THEN on Christmas day we went to Frere DeOliveras house... and he literally made an entire pig. Like in the movies! It was a sight to behold. I didn't get a picture but I think Elder Brill did. I'll have to ask him for it. It was enormous and oh so delicious. He has Portuguese origins, so we had a little bit of spice in our food (which was nice because French people generally hate spicy). We ate an early lunch with them from 12 to 5ish. 

Fun Christmas socks from Julie & Lucy :) 

Present from Cody.  lol

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 After that we were able to Skype at Soeur Mas' house. I think that was the best part of Christmas. I love seeing my ugly siblings. I say ugly because they actually have all gotten really big and beautiful but I HATE it. Especially Sierra... Yuck. No Braces? What is this madness? After seeing my family, it motivates me to continue to work hard as a missionary.

Skyping with his ugly siblings. 

 After our family Skype, Soeur Mas fed us a small dinner of leftovers and then we all drank Caro (which is like Postum/coffee substitute)... So French. lol. 

Up to this point, our week was wonderful! UNTIL

ILLNESS STRIKES

Due to several factors, Elder Brill got REALLY sick and we couldn't leave the apartment for two days. I went crazy. I had cabin fever so bad. Being stuck in the apartment is literally the worse thing that can happen to you as a missionary. You can only read you scriptures, clean, make so many phone calls and sleep before you get really, really, really, REALLY bored. I thought I was going to die. 

Fortunately we were able to go to church and breathe some fresh air... otherwise I think I would have reenacted "The Shining". After those two days I just wanted to run like 10 miles or something. It was not good for my mental health and apparently my physical health too because now I have the same cough as Elder Brill but I guess that is what happens when you are stuck in an apartment with a sick person for 48 hours straight. 

Anyway!

Despite illness, we had a great Christmas! It was so much fun. As I said before, Christmas as a missionary is the best thing ever. I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year! I'm excited to set some resolutions. The New Year is like a huge empty canvas just waiting to get paint thrown on it. Especially since this is my last year in France. I want to tear it up. 

Well! 

I love you! Happy New Year!

Elder Johnson

SHARE THE GIFT!

Hello everyone! This week was crazy awesome! We did a LOT of traveling.

Saying Goodbye to Henry and Hinaiti in Marseille

MARSEILLE TO BORDEAUX TO LYON 

So, travelling from Marseille to Perigueux took a lot of time! So much time that by the time I got into Bordeaux it was too late to travel to Perigueux... So, Elder Brill and I stayed with the Bordeaux zone leaders for a night before catching a train to Perigueux the next morning. 

We did P-Day Stuff on Tuesday and whatnot. Then, on Wednesday, we had to go to Bergerac to teach an ami of the other Elders before they got baptized. It was weird to be back in Bergerac... I was just walking around, knowing how to go everywhere. It was cool though. Their ami that is getting baptized is the daughter of a member that Elder Sanchez and I reactivated when we were there... which is super cool. Anyway! That took all day. We get back to Perigueux and realize that we are going to Lyon the next day for Bleus Conference…. 

Bleus Conference

We travel all day to Lyon that Thursday. Stay in Lyon Friday and leave Saturday morning. Being in Lyon brought back SO many memories of the very beginning of my mission and how far I have come as a missionary. It was sick. On Friday, we had lots of time left after conference so I sent a text to Rachelle and Annick (recent converts) to see if I could see them. They were both busy :( Annick was in Paris and Rachelle was super busy with work. They were both really sad that couldn't see me. I was sad too. Fortunately though, I sent a text to the Bonnamy Family to see if I could pass them and they said that there was a ward Christmas party that night. So, we went to the Confluence Ward and I got to see a TON of members from the beginning of my mission. It was SO cool. I was able to talk to them like a normal person in FRENCH! It made me really miss all of them but it was still such a neat experience. One, because I got to see them and two because I got to see that I've made some progress with the language ;) 

Me and Elder Brill in Lyon

Anyway. Lyon and Bleus Conference was awesome. We ended up getting back to Perigueux Saturday evening just in time for the church Christmas Party. It was a good opportunity to meet all of the members and make friends. And that was pretty much our entire week. Trains and traveling. 

Saying goodbye to the other Elders

IL EST LE DON

So, I'm sure that some of you have already watched the video or maybe have heard about the "new" video that the Church has made for Christmas. It is a very simple and beautiful message. We, as missionaries have been encouraged to share it with everyone that will watch it. From members to amis to people on the street. I have probably watched it about 50 times with 50 different people. Each time it really touches me. 

I invite you all to watch the video, discover the gift, and share the gift. Jesus was truly the very first gift, the most precious of all. Christmas time is such a special time of year. Let us not overlook the true meaning :).  #sharethegift

I love you all! 

Que l'esprit de Noel demeure avec nous!

Love,

Elder Johnson

Called To Serve

"Elder Johnson:

 

     You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the France Lyon Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months."

 

     As I opened my call, I distinctly remember the first word I saw: FRANCE.  It was as if it had jumped off the page like in a pop-up book. Tears of surprise and gratitude came to my eyes as I realized I was going to have to opportunity to serve the Lord in such a beautiful part of the world.

 

     One hundred and four days have passed since opening my call and I have forty-four   to go before I leave for the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT.

 

     Never in my life have I felt  so conflicted about something. I cannot begin to express how excited and grateful I am to have the opportunity to serve--but at the same time I am already missing my family. With that said,  I know  the Lord will bless my family and me for it. Not to mention I get to experience a new culture, language and people!

 

There is no question in my mind if I will miss my family and friends, but I know serving a mission is the right thing to do. I must be a part of the work. I must help spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the French people. I know of the happiness and blessings it can bring to individuals' lives and I want to share that happiness.

 

"Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise."

The Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2:8 

 

 

This is my actual mission call, which is signed by the President of the Church, Thomas S. Monson.

 

The area the France Lyon Mission encompasses.

 

Throughout my mission, my mom will update this blog on how I'm doing, where I'm serving, and anything interesting that has happened!

 

CTR,

Cameron